New OS X 10.5.2 seed inches closer to public release

With new hardware that ships in a few weeks, so must an OS update.

Mac OS X 10.5.2 was rumored to accompany whatever new hardware Apple was to announce at the Macworld '08 keynote, but it obviously went MIA. A new seed, however, was just delivered to developers, and is kicking up speculation again.

Noted by MacRumors as build 9C16, we don't know much more about it, other than the 70+ fixes previously reported and the Leopard Dock improvement. Various reports did note that Time Capsule's product page originally listed 10.5.2 as a requirement, but that detail has since been changed to 10.5.1. The Time Capsule is slated to ship in February though, so if 10.5.2 is indeed a requirement for the device, Apple still has time to polish the update.

There is also a possibility that 10.5.2 could bring Time Capsule functionality to current AirPort Extreme base stations which, according to Apple reps we spoke with on the floor, is not yet officially planned.